Quick-resume gaming

ABSTRACT

A quick-resume gaming system includes a game device configured to support playing a video game by a user. The quick-resume gaming system also includes a gaming control module coupled to the game device and configured to suspend and resume playing of the video game at a current display frame based on user initiated suspend and resume control commands, respectively. In another aspect, a method of quick-resume gaming includes playing a video game on a game device by a user. The method of quick-resume gaming also includes suspending the playing of the video game on the game device at a current display frame based on the user initiating a suspend control command and resuming the playing of the video game on the game device at the current display frame based on the user initiating a resume control command.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application is directed, in general, to computer gaming and, morespecifically, to a quick-resume gaming system and a method ofquick-resume gaming.

BACKGROUND

Video gaming, played on a local gaming device (such as a personalcomputer), is a rapidly growing commercial field that is receiving agreat deal of attention due to its universal interest and appeal. Manytimes, users play these games to certain places in the game and decidethat they have reached a point where they want to quit playing the gameand resume it later. Some games do have a “saved games” feature, whichallows a player to resume playing the game from different locationsinside the game. However, users have to start the game, wait for it toload, wait through menus, then select the saved game to restore, andwait for the game to finally load.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a quick-resume gamingsystem and a method of quick-resume gaming.

In one embodiment, the quick-resume gaming system includes a game deviceconfigured to support playing a video game by a user. The quick-resumegaming system also includes a gaming control module coupled to the gamedevice and configured to suspend and resume playing of the video game ata current display frame based on user initiated suspend and resumecontrol commands, respectively.

In another aspect, the method of quick-resume gaming includes playing avideo game on a game device by a user. The method of quick-resume gamingalso includes suspending the playing of the video game on the gamedevice at a current display frame based on the user initiating a suspendcontrol command and resuming the playing of the video game on the gamedevice at the current display frame based on the user initiating aresume control command.

The foregoing has outlined preferred and alternative features of thepresent disclosure so that those skilled in the art may betterunderstand the detailed description of the disclosure that follows.Additional features of the disclosure will be described hereinafter thatform the subject of the claims of the disclosure. Those skilled in theart will appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conceptionand specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying otherstructures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a quick-resumegaming system constructed according to the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of a frame of a local monitor with avideo game suspended and with the video game resumed, respectively;

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of an Internet gamingarrangement constructed according to the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of a cloud gamingarrangement constructed according to the principles of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method ofquick-resume gaming carried out according to the principles of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a quick-resumegaming system, generally designated 100, constructed according to theprinciples of the present disclosure. The quick-resume gaming system 100includes a game device employing a general purpose computer 105 with acomputer keyboard 115, a computer mouse 120 serving as a computerpointing device, a specialized game board or pad 125 and a local monitor130. Here, the game device is employed as a standalone gaming system,which provides needed display rendering information.

In the illustrated embodiment, the general purpose computer 105 includesa system central processing unit (CPU) 106, a system memory 107, agraphics processing unit (GPU) 108 and a frame memory 109. The generalpurpose computer 105 also includes a gaming control module 110. Thesystem CPU 106 is coupled to the system memory 107 and the GPU 108 andprovides general computing processes and control of operations for thelocal computer 105. The system memory 107 includes long term memorystorage (e.g., a hard drive) for computer applications and random accessmemory (RAM) to facilitate computation by the system CPU 106. The GPU108 is further coupled to the frame memory 109 and provides monitordisplay and frame control of the local monitor 130.

The gaming control module 110 is generally indicated in the localcomputer 105, and in one embodiment is a software module thatcorresponds to software included with a video game or software that isindependent of the video game. The gaming control module 110 mayoperationally reside in the system memory 107, the frame memory 109 orin portions of both.

The gaming control module 110 is coupled within the general purposecomputer 105 to suspend and resume playing of the video game at acurrent display frame (e.g., the display frame indicated on the localmonitor 130) based on user initiated suspend and subsequent resumecontrol commands, respectively. That is, a player of the video game cansuspend and later resume the video game at an exact point in time insidethe video game, thereby allowing the player to skip past all startupscreens, menus, and saved game selection processes.

This process is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, where FIG. 2A shows anexample of a frame of the local monitor 130 with the video gamesuspended, and FIG. 2B shows the same frame of the local monitor 130 inFIG. 1, immediately following resumption of the video game.

Embodiments of the present disclosure allow a user to employ a keyboardstroke of the keyboard 115 to act as the suspend and resume controlcommands. Of course, the same or different keys and keyboard strokes maybe employed to suspend and resume the video game at the current displayframe. Correspondingly, successive clicks of the computer mouse 120 maybe employed to accomplish the suspending and resuming of the video gameat the same computer display frame. Additionally, the user may employthe specialized game board 125 to suspend and resume the computerdisplay frame. If the game device is a laptop or notebook computerhaving general purpose computing capabilities, the suspend and resumecontrol commands may correspond to closing and opening the laptop ornotebook computer, respectively.

In the standalone, quick-resume gaming system 100, the suspend controlcommand causes the contents of memory locations controlling the currentgame display frame to be stored in the long term memory portion of thesystem memory 107. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, a regular display frame(employed during suspension of the current game display frame) maycorrespond to a normal wallpaper view. Alternately, the regular displayframe may be another view associated with a computer application beingemployed by the user. Upon activation of the resume control command, thestored content of the memory locations (that were originally controllingthe game display frame) is restored to its previous locations therebyrestoring the game display frame to its previous condition just prior toits suspension, as indicated in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of an Internet gamingarrangement, generally designated 300, constructed according to theprinciples of the present disclosure. The Internet gaming arrangement300 includes first and second Internet gaming systems 305, 315, anInternet communications network 320 and an Internet server 325. Thefirst and second Internet gaming systems 305, 315 and the Internetserver 325 are linked to one another through the Internet communicationsnetwork 320, as shown. The first Internet gaming system 305 includes afirst game device 306 having a first gaming control module 307 and afirst Internet token module 308. Similarly, the second Internet gamingsystem 315 includes a second game device 316 having a second gamingcontrol module 317 and a second Internet token module 318.

As before, each of the first and second game devices 306, 316 isconfigured to support playing a video game by a user. Correspondingly,each of the first and second gaming control modules 307, 317 is coupledto its respective game device and is configured to suspend and resumeplaying of the video game at a current display frame based on respectiveuser initiated suspend and resume control commands. Additionally, eachof the first and second Internet token modules 308, 318 is configured tostore an Internet token in its respective game device 306, 316corresponding to the Internet server 325, wherein the Internet tokenfacilitates suspending and resuming the current display frame for theInternet server 325. Each of the first and second Internet tokens aregenerally computer files that store data specific to their respectivefirst or second Internet gaming systems 305, 315 and the Internet server325 and depend on the gaming environment.

The first and second game devices 306, 316 may employ standalonecomputer systems corresponding to the one discussed with respect toFIG. 1. These would include desktop, laptop or notebook computer systemshaving the capabilities previously discussed. As such, the first andsecond game devices 306, 316 operate as thick clients connected to theInternet server 325 through the Internet communications network 320.Additionally, the first and second game devices 306, 316 provide theirown local display rendering information, as before.

The Internet server 325 serves as a gaming server in this embodiment andmaintains specific data about a game world (environment) being played aswell as data corresponding to the first and second gaming computers 305,315. Of course, more than two gaming computers and multiple gamingservers may be employed in this gaming environment.

The Internet gaming arrangement 300 allows online game playing betweenthe first and second Internet gaming systems 305, 315. The first andsecond Internet token modules 308, 318 serve to respectively store firstand second Internet tokens that correspond to the Internet server 325.Each of the first and second Internet tokens is employed by the Internetserver 325 and respectively indicates suspending and resuming currentgaming display frames in the first and second game devices 306, 316.

As indicated, the first and second Internet tokens are computer filesthat are configured to store data that is specific to their respectivefirst and second game devices 306, 316 and the Internet server 325.These Internet tokens allow the Internet server 325 to keep track ofgame information for the first and second Internet gaming systems 305,315, especially during a period when one of them is employed to suspendor resume playing a game. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, thefirst Internet gaming system 305 has just suspended playing the game,and the first Internet token allows the Internet server 325 to recognizethis condition or state. Then, the suspended game state of the firstgaming computer 305 may be indicated to the second Internet gamingsystem 315 by the Internet server 325, thereby allowing its user to takeappropriate action.

Additionally, when either of the first and second Internet gamingsystems 305, 315 enters a game suspended state, contents of memorylocations controlling its current game display frame along with itscorresponding Internet token are stored in the long term memory portionof its system memory, as indicated before. Resumption of the gamereverses this action thereby making the stored game display frame andthe Internet token active again.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of a cloud gamingarrangement, generally designated 400, constructed according to theprinciples of the present disclosure. The cloud gaming arrangement 400includes first and second cloud gaming systems 405, 415 and a cloudnetwork 420 employing a cloud server 425. The first and second cloudgaming systems 405, 415 employ respective game devices that are thinclients having gaming control modules, as discussed previously.Additionally, they include first and second cloud token modules 407,417, as shown. The first and second cloud token modules 407, 417 storerespective cloud tokens corresponding to the cloud server 425, whereinthe cloud tokens facilitate suspending and resuming respective currentdisplay frames for the cloud server 425.

Generally, a thin client is a dedicated device (in this case, a gamedevice) that depends heavily on a server to assist in or fulfill itstraditional roles. The thin client may employ a computer having limitedcapabilities (compared to a standalone computer) and one thataccommodates only a reduced set of essential applications. Typically,the thin client computer system is devoid of optical drives (CD-ROM orDVD drives), for example. The thin client depends on a centralprocessing server, such as the cloud server 425, to functionoperationally. In the illustrated example of the cloud gamingarrangement 400, the first and second cloud gaming systems 405, 415employ game devices that are respectively a cell phone and a computertablet (i.e., a tablet) having touch sensitive screens, which areemployed by a user to provide user initiated suspend and resume controlcommands. Other applicable thin clients include television sets, cableTV control boxes and netbooks, for example. Of course, other embodimentsmay employ standalone computers systems (i.e., thick clients) althoughthey are generally not required.

The cloud server 425 serves as a gaming server in this embodiment andmaintains specific data about a game world environment being played aswell as data corresponding to the first and second cloud gaming systems405, 415. As before, more than two cloud gaming systems and multiplegaming servers may be employed in this gaming environment. In theillustrated embodiment, the cloud server 425 provides a cloud gamingenvironment wherein a cloud gaming graphic processor is employed in thecloud server 425. The operating system in the cloud server 425 senseswhen one of the thin clients connects to it and starts or includes thethin client in a game that is rendered on the cloud gaming graphicsprocessor. This display rendering information is then encoded as acompressed video stream and sent to the thin client for display.

The cloud gaming arrangement 400 provides another approach to onlinegame playing between the first and second cloud gaming systems 405, 415.As noted earlier, the first and second cloud token modules 407, 417serve to respectively store first and second cloud tokens thatcorrespond to the cloud server 425 in the first and second game devicesof the first and second cloud gaming systems 405, 415. Each of the firstand second cloud tokens is employed by the cloud server 425 andrespectively indicates suspending and resuming current gaming displayframes in the first and second cloud gaming systems 405, 415.

The first and second cloud tokens are computer files that store dataspecific to their respective first or second cloud gaming systems 405,415 and the cloud server 425. These cloud tokens allow the cloud server425 to track game information for the first and second cloud gamingsystems 405, 415, especially during a period when one of them suspendsor resumes playing a game. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, thefirst cloud gaming system 405 has just suspended playing a game, and thefirst cloud token allows the cloud server 425 to recognize thiscondition or state. Then, the suspended game state of the first cloudgaming system 405 may be indicated to the second cloud gaming system 415by the cloud server 425, thereby allowing its user to take appropriateaction.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, display rendering informationfor the current display frame is processed and provided by the cloudserver 425 and streamed to each of the first and second game devices(i.e., the cell phone and the computer tablet). As noted, the displayrendering information is sent to the first and second cloud gamingsystems 405, 415 employing a compressed video stream. Of course, otherapproaches to providing the display rendering information may beemployed. At the suspension of a game, the first and second cloud tokensare stored in a memory portion of a corresponding system memory, asindicated before. Resumption of the game reverses this action therebymaking the stored game display frame and the cloud token active again.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method ofquick-resume gaming, generally designated 500, carried out according tothe principles of the present disclosure. The method 500 starts in astep 505, and a video game is played on a game device by a user, in astep 510. Then, the playing of the video game is suspended on the gamedevice at a current display frame based on the user initiating a suspendcontrol command, in a step 515. The playing of the video game is resumedon the game device at the current display frame based on the userinitiating a resume control command, in a step 520.

An Internet token is stored in the game device corresponding to anInternet server, wherein the Internet token facilitates suspending andresuming the current display frame for Internet gaming, in a step 525. Acloud token is stored in the game device corresponding to a cloudserver, wherein the cloud token facilitates suspending and resuming thecurrent display frame for cloud gaming, in a step 530.

In one embodiment, display rendering information for the current displayframe is stored in and retrieved from a memory contained in the gamedevice. In another embodiment, a software module controls suspending andresuming the playing of the video game at the current display frame.Correspondingly, the software module corresponds to software includedwith the video game or software that is independent of the video game.

In yet another embodiment, the suspend and resume control commandscorrespond to actions employing at least one selected from the groupconsisting of a keyboard, a pointing device, a touch sensitive screenand a specialized game board. In still another embodiment, the gamedevice is a laptop or a notebook computer and the suspend and resumecontrol commands correspond to closing and opening the laptop ornotebook computer, respectively. In a further embodiment, the gamedevice is a thin client and display rendering information for thecurrent display frame is provided by the cloud server. Additionally, thedisplay rendering information is provided to the thin client employing acompressed video stream. The method 500 ends in a step 535.

While the method disclosed herein has been described and shown withreference to particular steps performed in a particular order, it willbe understood that these steps may be combined, subdivided, or reorderedto form an equivalent method without departing from the teachings of thepresent disclosure. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein,the order or the grouping of the steps is not a limitation of thepresent disclosure.

Those skilled in the art to which this application relates willappreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutionsand modifications may be made to the described embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A quick-resume gaming system, comprising: a gamedevice configured to support playing a video game by a user; and agaming control module coupled to the game device and configured tosuspend and resume playing of the video game at a current display framebased on user initiated suspend and resume control commands,respectively.
 2. The gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein displayrendering information for the current display frame is stored in andretrieved from a memory contained in the game device.
 3. The gamingsystem as recited in claim 1 wherein the gaming control module is asoftware module.
 4. The gaming system as recited in claim 3 wherein thesoftware module corresponds to software included with the video game orsoftware that is independent of the video game.
 5. The gaming system asrecited in claim 1 wherein the user initiated suspend and resume controlcommands correspond to actions employing at least one selected from thegroup consisting of: a keyboard; a pointing device; a touch sensitivescreen; and a specialized game board.
 6. The gaming system as recited inclaim 1 wherein the game device is a laptop or notebook computer and theuser initiated suspend and resume control commands correspond to closingand opening the laptop or notebook computer, respectively.
 7. The gamingsystem as recited in claim 1 further comprising and Internet tokenmodule configured to store an Internet token in the game devicecorresponding to an Internet server, wherein the Internet tokenfacilitates suspending and resuming the current display frame for theInternet server.
 8. The gaming system as recited in claim 1 furthercomprising a cloud token module configured to store a cloud token in thegame device corresponding to a cloud server, wherein the cloud tokenfacilitates suspending and resuming the current display frame for thecloud server.
 9. The gaming system as recited in claim 8 wherein thegame device is a thin client and display rendering information for thecurrent display frame is provided by the cloud server.
 10. The gamingsystem as recited in claim 9 wherein the display rendering informationis provided to the thin client employing a compressed video stream. 11.A method of quick-resume gaming, comprising: playing a video game on agame device by a user; suspending the playing of the video game on thegame device at a current display frame based on the user initiating asuspend control command; and resuming the playing of the video game onthe game device at the current display frame based on the userinitiating a resume control command.
 12. The method as recited in claim11 wherein display rendering information for the current display frameis stored in and retrieved from a memory contained in the game device.13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein a software module controlssuspending and resuming the playing of the video game at the currentdisplay frame.
 14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein thesoftware module corresponds to software included with the video game orsoftware that is independent of the video game.
 15. The method asrecited in claim 11 wherein the suspend and resume control commandscorrespond to actions employing at least one selected from the groupconsisting of: a keyboard; a pointing device; a touch sensitive screen;and a specialized game board.
 16. The method as recited in claim 11wherein the game device is a laptop or notebook computer and the suspendand resume control commands correspond to closing and opening the laptopor notebook computer, respectively.
 17. The method as recited in claim11 further comprising storing an Internet token in the game devicecorresponding to an Internet server, wherein the Internet tokenfacilitates suspending and resuming the current display frame forInternet gaming.
 18. The method as recited in claim 11 furthercomprising storing a cloud token in the game device corresponding to acloud server, wherein the cloud token facilitates suspending andresuming the current display frame for cloud gaming.
 19. The method asrecited in claim 18 wherein the game device is a thin client and displayrendering information for the current display frame is provided by thecloud server.
 20. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the displayrendering information is provided to the thin client employing acompressed video stream.